Tortuguero

The "Amazon of the Caribbean," reachable only by boat or small plane, with a rainforest crisscrossed by canals and nesting beaches for green sea turtles.

Tortuguero lies on the Caribbean coast of northeastern Limón province, Costa Rica, and is made up of sandbars, lagoons, canals and lowland rainforest. No roads connect it to the outside world, and it is known as the "Little Amazon of the Caribbean." Its core is Tortuguero National Park and Tortuguero village on the sandbar, with Tortuguero Hill and the Barra del Colorado reserve to the north, and another turtle village, Parismina, to the south. It rains much of the year here, with annual rainfall of over 5,000 mm. July–October is the peak nesting season for green sea turtles, and September–October is actually relatively dry on the Caribbean coast, making it the best time to visit; February–April is drier, and leatherback turtles can be seen March–May. Typical activities: a boat trip along the canals in the early morning to see sloths, monkeys, caimans and birds; a walk on the land trails or a climb up Tortuguero Hill in the afternoon; turtle nesting watching at night with a licensed guide; and also kayaking for birdwatching and a visit to the Sea Turtle Conservancy museum. Getting there: about 3–4 hours by road from San José to the La Pavona dock, then about 1 hour by boat; or buy a 2-day-1-night or 3-day-2-night package that includes transport, meals, lodging and a guide; you can also take a small plane, about 30 minutes. Facilities in the village are basic and ATMs are unreliable, so bring cash, a rain jacket, insect repellent and a flashlight (with a red light).

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Itineraries